The other thing to consider instead of a recycle backup each day which
will replace the entire contents of your backup would be (I'll use the
Windows version as an example but would assume that there is a
corresponding option in Mac) to de-select the option "Don't add
duplicates to Backup Set".
In this case, Retrospect will do a complete backup of every file on the
source and then the next time the script runs it will append another
complete backup. It is kind of the best of both worlds, in that if you
do have a problem with the source (or a deleted file) that is
unrecognized for several days, you don't lose that data, and you are
getting a complete snapshot of the drive each day.
We use this strategy in several subvolumes that contain database
information that does not update the modify date/time nor the size, such
as an Informix database running under Windows, in which DB "spaces" are
created as a fixed size that does not change unless you are modifying
the dbspace sizes, so failure to perform this type of backup would mean
that this critical data does not get backed up but once (when the
database is initially created and completely blank!).
The key for us is to identify the subvolumes that need this type of
backup and we perform a regular incremental backup of the entire server
followed by a backup with "Don't add duplicates to backup set" turned
off for defined subvolumes of that server that contain data that needs
this option.
That option is selected in your backup script under:
Execution > Matching > Don't add duplicates to Backup Set
Alternatively, you could turn matching off and it would do the same
thing, but I believe you lose some functionality if you turn matching
off completely.
Jason Ferenczy-Zumpano, Practice Administrator
Cornerstone Medical Care of Brandon, P.L.
500 Vonderburg Drive, East Tower, Suite 102
Brandon, Florida 33511-5968
813/681-5658x25 Phone <> 813/681-5250 Fax
E-Mail: ***@cmcb.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Nathanson [mailto:***@Nathanson.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 9:46 PM
To: retro-talk Dantz
Subject: Re: Full Backups
Hello Michael,
In the back up script, under "Schedule" you have the choice not only of
time & date, but other things as well, such as Normal back up, New Media
Back up, or recycle back up.
Since you stated you are new to Retrospect, I hope you don't mind if I
try to define some terms you may already know.
"Normal" means full back up the first time, then incremental after that.
If you want to delete the data on your tape (or other device) choose
recycle back up.
If you want to start over with NEW tapes (or other media), but not erase
the old tapes, then choose New Media Back up.
Please note that the incremental back up is a lot faster because it
keeps
the old data from yesterday & before. It just adds new & changed files
to
the existing back up data set. So at the end of a "Normal" (incremental)
back up you have a snapshot of the way things were today, plus you also
still have a snap shot f the way things were the day before (& etc).
This
has the important benefit of keeping older versions that people might
need.
If your server changes most of it's data daily, then it may make sense
for the script to auto-delete yesterday's back up and replace it with
100% new back up for today. That would be the "Recycle" back up.
However, please note that if your server has some problem that is not
noticed for a few days, you may not have any back up older than 1 day,
so
you might be out of luck. This is why a good back up strategy is
important to define.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Dave Nathanson
Mac Medix
in reply to (***@cmcb.com), Jason Ferenczy-Zumpano's message of 4:27
PM, 11/2/05
Post by Jason Ferenczy-ZumpanoSent: Wednesday, November 02, 2005 6:42 PM
Subject: Full Backups
I am new to Retrospect and want to do a full backup of a server every
day.
Post by Jason Ferenczy-ZumpanoAll my attempts have ended up in incrementals.
Any hints?
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Post by Jason Ferenczy-Zumpano-----
Michael K. Huber
System Administrator
PWT/Pentair Filtration, Inc
502 Indiana Ave - Sheboygan, WI 53081
Phone: (920) 451-9417 FAX: (920) 803-3541